Christopher D Monson, J Priyanka Vakkalanka, Gerene M Denning, Nicholas R Stange, Charles A Jennissen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Legislative bodies across the country have increasingly allowed off-road vehicles (ORVs) including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) on public roads, an environment for which they are not designed. In 2004, Iowa gave individual counties the discretion to pass ordinances allowing ORVs on public roadways. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the passage of ORV ordinances and ORV crash rates, especially on public roads.
Methods: An Iowa ORV roadway ordinance database and an Iowa ORV crash database (2002-2018) for all 99 counties were compiled. Crashes for which county location could not be determined were excluded. Utilizing a zero-inflated Poisson model, correcting for background crash frequency trends and population, investigators compared the relative rates of crashes after ordinance passage to time points before ordinance implementation and to counties without such ordinances. Sub-analyses, including that focused on more recent years (2008-2018), were also performed.
Results: Forty-five county ORV roadway ordinances went into effect between 2011 and 2018 and 2,347 crashes (69%) met inclusion criteria. Adjusted for year, there was a 58% greater ORV crash rate in counties after passing an ORV roadway ordinance (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.58, 95% CI 1.32-1.90). Roadway crashes (n = 834) increased 48% after ordinance passage (IRR 1.48, 95% CI 1.14-1.94). This roadway crash association remained statistically significant when analysis was limited to the years 2008-2018 (IRR 1.39, CI 1.06-1.83, n = 544); to ATV crashes only (IRR 1.70, CI 1.20-2.40, n = 683); and to ATV crashes excluding counties with UTV-only ordinances (IRR 1.74, CI 1.40-2.15, n = 2,011).
Conclusions: ORV roadway and total crashes increased significantly after implementation of county ordinances allowing ORVs on public roadways and when compared to counties without such ordinances. It is likely that these increased crashes have resulted in more injuries and possibly deaths. Results from this study may help inform policymakers as they consider legislation regarding ORV usage on public roads.
期刊介绍:
Injury Epidemiology is dedicated to advancing the scientific foundation for injury prevention and control through timely publication and dissemination of peer-reviewed research. Injury Epidemiology aims to be the premier venue for communicating epidemiologic studies of unintentional and intentional injuries, including, but not limited to, morbidity and mortality from motor vehicle crashes, drug overdose/poisoning, falls, drowning, fires/burns, iatrogenic injury, suicide, homicide, assaults, and abuse. We welcome investigations designed to understand the magnitude, distribution, determinants, causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and outcomes of injuries in specific population groups, geographic regions, and environmental settings (e.g., home, workplace, transport, recreation, sports, and urban/rural). Injury Epidemiology has a special focus on studies generating objective and practical knowledge that can be translated into interventions to reduce injury morbidity and mortality on a population level. Priority consideration will be given to manuscripts that feature contemporary theories and concepts, innovative methods, and novel techniques as applied to injury surveillance, risk assessment, development and implementation of effective interventions, and program and policy evaluation.